Aberdeen AGM & Annual Dinner

3 December 2008 Aberdeen, UK

Sponsored by DUCO, J P Kenny and Aker Solutions

Flyer

Report

The Aberdeen Branch of SUT held its Annual Dinner and AGM on the evening of Wednesday, 3 December 2008, at the Marcliffe Hotel. The best attendance to date of almost 260 people enjoyed a champagne reception sponsored by DUCO, a four-course meal with the wine sponsored by J P Kenny and a very entertaining after dinner speaker, Mr Graham Jolley, sponsored by Aker Solutions.

The Martin Richmond Award was presented during the dinner. The award, in its third year, was set up between J P Kenny and SUT in memory of Martin who died from cancer in January 2006 at the age of 52. Martin was employed by JPK at the time of his death and was Chairman of the Aberdeen Branch of SUT.

Award of Merit (from left to right): Jim Mann (SUT Aberdeen Chairman), Dr Patrick O'Brien (MCS) and Mr David Kaye  (SUT Aberdeen Vice Chairman)

The award is made to a mature postgraduate student who has performed most diligently throughout the course under extraneous and mitigating personal circumstances.

This year the Award went to Linda Bremner who is studying on the University of Aberdeen's MSc in Subsea Engineering by distance learning, as well as working full time at Marathon Oil as a Subsea Integrity Technician, and supporting her family.

The form of the Award is actually derived from a separate competition involving RGU's Gray's School of Art for an original piece of artwork. The winner of the art competition receives a monetary award sponsored by J P Kenny. This year the Award went to mature student Fiona Taylor for her artwork titled "Love Bleeds". Fiona is currently in her final year of a BA (Hons) Painting Degree at Gray's.

Another award the SUT Aberdeen Branch presents at the AGM is the Award of Merit is given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Branch activities, underwater technology, the underwater industry, and the aims and objectives of the Society. The Award of Merit for 2008 was awarded to Dr Patrick O'Brien (better known as Paddy to his friends and colleagues), Group Director, Services & Technology for MCS.

The Award is normally made at the Aberdeen Branch AGM & Annual Dinner held in December however Paddy was at the Deepwater Offshore Technology Conference in Perth, Australia during that time so was unfortunately unable to attend. Due to this, the Award was given on Tuesday 13 January 2009 by SUT Aberdeen Branch Chairman, Mr Jim Mann and Vice-Chairman, Mr David Kaye at MCS' offices in Aberdeen.